Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007
1184 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason child benefit for which application was made in March 2006 is not in payment in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; if entitlement to child benefit has been established in this case; if he will ensure that entitlement to child benefit in this case, including arrears, is awarded without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2818/07]
View answerUnder EU regulations 1408/71, an employed person who is working in a Member State is entitled to the family benefits provided by that State even though the family may be residing in another Member State. A claim for child benefit in respect of his children residing in Poland was received from the person concerned on 30 March 2006. Due to the volume of such claims being received and the complexities that can arise in dealing with claims under EU regulations, there can be a delay in dealing with them. My Department has written to the Polish authorities seeking necessary information and when a reply is received, a decision will be made on the claim and the person concerned will be notified accordingly. Following the arrival of the family in Ireland in July 2006, a further claim for Child Benefit was received in November 2006 and Child Benefit was awarded under Irish legislation with effect from 1 August 2006. Arrears due from August will be in the nominated bank account on Tuesday, 6 February.
1187 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person in receipt of carers allowance is not qualified to obtain a free fuel allowance payment; if so, the reason for same; his plans to change the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2977/07]
View answerCarer's allowance is a means tested payment for people who are providing full time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care. Although recipients of carer's allowance themselves are not eligible for the national fuel scheme they do qualify for the household benefits package and the free travel scheme. In addition, the person to whom the care is being provided may be in receipt of the free fuel allowance. The household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes. In recognition of recent increases in the price of natural gas and electricity I have provided for significant increases to the gas and electricity allowances. I provided for the number of units of electricity covered by the scheme to increase from 1,800 to 2,400 with effect from January 2007. I also made provision for an equivalent increase in the natural gas allowance which came into effect in October 2006. These allowances also cover increased standing charges and the associated VAT. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social welfare or Health Services Executive payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to meet out of household income, it is open to him/her to apply to the local community welfare officer for a special heating supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This supplement is considered the most appropriate and effective way to provide extra resources in circumstances where a person has increased heating requirements due to illness. The position with regard to energy and heating costs generally is kept under review.
1188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent allowance should have been payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has participated in a FÁS training scheme at Loughlinstown, County Dublin, when they resided in Ballyfermot for the duration of the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3049/07]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a rent supplement to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The Executive has advised that there is no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to enquire as to their possible entitlement to rent supplement they should contact the Executive who will advise them accordingly.
1189 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of families in receipt of the family income supplement; the breakdown of the family size in each of these families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3085/07]
View answerOn 5 January 2007, there were 21,800 people with some 44,000 Qualifying Children in receipt of Family Income Supplement with the following family sizes:
|
Family Size |
Number of Recipients |
|
1 child |
9,433 |
|
2 children |
6,500 |
|
3 children |
3,327 |
|
4 children |
1,609 |
|
5 children |
625 |
|
6 children |
204 |
|
7 children |
73 |
|
8 (or more) children |
29 |
1190 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department’s review of social welfare payments to carers has been completed; if so, the findings of same; when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3087/07]
View answerMy Department conducted an internal review of payments to carers during the period 2004 to 2006. The review was designed as a vehicle to build on the review of the carer's allowance which was published in 1998 and to develop proposals for improvements in the schemes. The review examined all aspects of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant and made a broad range of proposals covering issues such as the definition of full time care and attention, qualifying conditions for the respite care grant and the operation of the means test for carer's allowance. I am very pleased that in recent Budgets I have been able to implement many of the review's recommendations especially in the area of introducing more flexibilities in current arrangements. Although the review was completed in the last quarter of 2006 some updating is now required in order to reflect recent developments in relation to payments to carers. I intend to publish the review in the near future. I am committed to working for, and with, carers to deliver increased benefits, supports, and services for them and their families. The improvements for carers which I announced in Budget 2007 are further evidence of this commitment.
1192 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the review of the medical review and assessment service has been completed; if so, the findings of same; when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3089/07]
View answerThe function of the Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) unit is to confirm the eligibility for illness, disability and carer schemes, based on medical certification and reports provided by the claimant's medical practitioner, or based on medical examination undertaken by departmental Medical Assessors. An organisation review of the service commenced in October 2005 and was concluded in April 2006. Given the nature of the review, it is not intended to publish the report. The main recommendations in the report related to the future structure of the service including arrangements for the appointment of Medical Assessors and the arrangement of medical assessment centres with a view to maximizing efficiency and providing a better service to customers; the development of a computerised case management system to support Medical Assessors, medical certifiers and administrative staff to reduce the current reliance on largely paper-based systems; and the redesign of business and medical processes, including the development of medical examination protocols and performance management systems for medical assessors and certifiers. My Department has begun work on implementing the recommendations of this report. The process of recruiting additional Medical Assessors is under way. In addition, a review of the network of examination centres is taking place to see if it can be rationalised and developed along the lines recommended by the report. Protocols for the conduct of medical examinations are also being developed. Further consideration and consultation is taking place in my Department in relation to other recommendations of the report focused on business processes.
